Our inventors have generated novel materials by engineering the pore surface to impart different superwettabilities onto COFs. The pores of COFs, unlike other nonporous coatings, are permeable to air, thus facilitating the release of generated heat by electronic devices as well as aiding in the comfort of functional garments. In contrast to existing fabricated superhydrophobic surfaces, coatings created by COFs are more durable and retain superhydrophobicity even when the top layer gets damaged, because superhydrophobic layers encompass the entire thickness. Superhydrophobic COFs can also be integrated into melamine foam and magnetic liquids for applications in oil recovery and microfluidics, respectively. These features of COFs provide new opportunities for the design of advanced materials and devices.
Photo Showing COF-Integrated Foam Floating on Water